On 26-27 October, the Chemical Automation and Digitalisation Congress (Automa Chem) opened its doors for the first time, at Estrel Berlin. Two days later, the numbers told a clear story: 230 delegates from 111 companies and more than 20 countries, 45 speakers, over 20 hours of cases and discussions and more than 140 B2B meetings. For a debut edition, the Congress was fully booked, from delegate places to the exhibition floor.

Why chemicals needed a room of its own

Automa Chem started from a simple observation. Chemical producers work in a decision environment of their own, shaped by capital intensity, safety, regulation and the push to decarbonise, yet their digital and operations leaders have long been spread across conferences built for energy, pharma or industry in general. The aim in Berlin was to bring those conversations under one roof, in a closed-door format designed for the people who make the decisions.

The first edition suggests the industry was ready for it.

A full house from day one

Selling out a first edition is never a given. Automa Chem 2026 reached full capacity ahead of the Congress, and the mix in the room reflected what the format is built for. Chemical companies and production sites formed the core of the audience, joined by EPCs and CDMOs, industrial gas and biotech companies, industry associations and the technology and equipment providers that work alongside them. Around half of participants held technical, engineering, operations or digitalisation roles, with senior executives setting the strategic direction.

That balance is what delegates noticed first. Jaime Aguilera, Co-Founder and CEO at Voovio, described it simply: “We really found ourselves super comfortable, with the right connections and the right environment.”

The support behind the Congress was just as strong. Evonik joined as Host Sponsor, with WACKER Chemie AG (Burghausen site), Covestro, LyondellBasell, Worley and Linde as Regional Partners and Endress+Hauser as Elite Sponsor. Their teams were part of the programme on stage and of the conversations around it, and for a first edition, that level of backing from across the value chain set the tone for everything that followed.

What was on the table

Over two days, the agenda followed digitalisation across the whole chemical value chain: generative AI and lab automation in R&D, OT/IT architecture and autonomous operations on the plant floor, digital twins that follow an asset through its lifecycle, AI in production planning and quality control, sustainability automation and a closed-door roundtable on bio-based and circular value chains. The session hall stayed full throughout, and the discussions kept returning to the same practical questions: how to scale what works beyond a single site, and how to bring people along with the technology.

Eduardo Sopalda, Global D&T Data & AI Governance Expert at DSM-Firmenich, put the people side plainly when we asked what is overhyped in the industry right now: “We need to remember that AI is just a tool. I compare AI to a hammer: if you don’t know how to use it, it can be very dangerous. Same with AI. You need education first.”

For Javier Martinez Crespo, Senior Scientist Robotics & Industrial Assets at Repsol Materials, the programme and the exhibition worked together. Anyone who wasn’t in Berlin, he said, missed “great contacts, a great chance to discover the technologies being developed right now, and a view of where the industry is heading in the coming years”.

The conversations that continued after the sessions

Between sessions, the Congress moved into more than 20 hours of networking. Personal managers worked with delegates ahead of the event to arrange meetings around shared interests, which led to more than 140 B2B meetings over the two days. The Focus Exhibition brought together 30 exhibitors, with the coffee and networking areas set within it, and the first evening closed with a Gala Dinner at Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in Kreuzberg.

A first edition is ultimately a test of whether people want to come back. Asked to describe Automa Chem 2026 in three words, Markus Hartung, Vice President Region EMEA & Global Commercial Processes Catalysts at Evonik Operations GmbH, gave the answer we were hoping for: “Value, people, do it again.”

Thank you

Automa Chem 2026 was made possible by 21 sponsors and partners and supported by 19 leading media houses. Our thanks go to all of them, and to every speaker, exhibitor and delegate who helped make our first edition what it was.

Next stop: Brussels

Automa Chem returns on 22-23 November 2027 in Brussels, at the heart of European chemical policy and industry dialogue. The second edition will build on what Berlin confirmed: the chemical industry needs a dedicated space for the right conversations, with the right people, at the right level.

Learn more about Automa Chem 2027

FAQ

When and where did Automa Chem 2026 take place?
Automa Chem 2026 took place on 26-27 October 2026 at Estrel Berlin, Germany. It was the first edition of the Chemical Automation and Digitalisation Congress.

How many people attended Automa Chem 2026?
The Congress brought together 230 delegates from 111 companies and more than 20 countries, with 45 speakers, 30 exhibitors and more than 140 B2B meetings over two days.

Who attends Automa Chem?
Automa Chem brings together chemical companies and production sites, EPCs and CDMOs, industrial gas and biotech companies, industry associations and technology and equipment providers. Around half of participants work in technical, engineering, operations or digitalisation roles.

What topics did Automa Chem 2026 cover?
The programme covered digitalisation across the chemical value chain, including AI and lab automation in R&D, OT/IT architecture and autonomous operations, digital twins, AI in production planning and quality control, sustainability automation and bio-based and circular value chains.

Which companies supported Automa Chem 2026?
Evonik was Host Sponsor, with WACKER Chemie AG (Burghausen site), Covestro, LyondellBasell, Worley and Linde as Regional Partners and Endress+Hauser as Elite Sponsor. In total, the Congress was supported by 21 sponsors and partners and 19 media houses.

When and where will Automa Chem 2027 take place?
Automa Chem 2027 will take place on 22-23 November 2027 in Brussels, Belgium.